Abdominal track exercise device

ABSTRACT

An abdominal exercise device includes a straight, round track having a front end and a back end, and a sliding base movable along the track between the front end and the back end. The sliding base includes a housing disposed around the track, and a plurality of sheaves disposed in the housing and rotatably attached to the housing and engagable with the track to roll along the track.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/690,515, filed Jun. 28, 2012, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to an abdominal exercise device, andmore specifically to an abdominal exercise device with a simplestructure having a sliding base that permits extensive flexibility tomaximize exercise value for a user.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Many exercise devices combine apparatuses for strengthening differentmuscle groups, such as upper and lower body muscles. Such devicesincluding apparatuses for strengthening abdominal muscles are generallyheavy and difficult to store.

Therefore, a solution is needed to provide an abdominal exercise devicethat has a simple structure and that is easy and flexible for a user touse and perform exercises to strengthen his or her abdominal muscles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal exercisedevice with a simple, lightweight and inexpensive structure. The devicemay be used in a small space and can quickly and easily be moved andstored. The device may be used at any location convenient for the user,including at home, indoors or outdoors, at health clubs, atrehabilitations centers, and in physical therapy centers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an abdominalexercise device with an ergonomic design for toning and shaping a user'sabdominal muscles, for losing weight, and to optimize the user'sworkout.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an abdominalexercise device that allows a user of any age to perform efficientabdominal exercises safely and comfortably.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an abdominalexercise device that helps a user attain stronger lower back and coremuscles and to better define all of his or her abdominal muscles, whileminimizing the time spent on excising and maximizing positive fitnessresults.

This invention relates to an abdominal exercise device having a simpleand lightweight structure in which a base slides along a track.

In general, in one aspect, the invention features an exercise deviceincluding a straight, round track having a front end and a back end, anda sliding base movable along the track between the front end and theback end. The sliding base includes a housing disposed around the track,and a plurality of sheaves rotatably attached to the housing andengagable with the track to roll along the track.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing features. The device may includes a front pair of legsattached to the front end of the track and a back pair of legs attachedto the back end of the track for supporting the track. The device mayinclude a first O-ring band attachable between the back pair of legs andthe sliding base, and a second O-ring band attachable between the frontpair of legs and the sliding base.

The device may include a handle attached to the sliding base. The handlemay include handle grips and forearm rests. The handle may have anergonomic design. The handle may be pivotally or rotatably attached tothe sliding base.

The sliding base may be pivotable around the track. The device mayinclude rotatable pulley wheels attached to the rear pair of legs andthe sliding base, the first O-ring band being securely stretchablebetween the rotatable pulley wheels. The device may include rotatablepulley wheels attached to the front pair of legs and the sliding base,the second O-ring band being securely stretchable between the rotatablepulley wheels.

In general, in another aspect, the invention features an exercise deviceincluding a straight, round track having a front end and a back end, afront pair or legs attached to the front end of the track, and a backpair of legs attached to the back end of the track. A sliding base ismovable along the track between the front end and the back end, thesliding base including a housing disposed around the track and aplurality of sheaves disposed in the housing and rotatably attached tothe housing and engagable with the track to roll along the track. Ahandle is attached to the sliding base. A first O-ring band isattachable between the back pair of legs and the sliding base. A second0-ring band is attachable between the front pair of legs and the slidingbase.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing features. The handle may include handle grips and forearmrests. The handle may have an ergonomic design. The handle may bepivotally or rotatably attached to the sliding base. The sliding basemay be pivotable around the track.

In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method ofperforming an exercise including providing an exercise device includinga straight, round track having a front end and a back end, a front pairor legs attached to the front end of the track, and a back pair of legsattached to the back end of the track; a sliding base movable along thetrack between the front end and the back end, the sliding base includinga housing disposed around the track and a plurality of sheaves disposedin the housing and rotatably attached to the housing and engagable withthe track to roll along the track; a first O-ring band attachablebetween the back pair of legs and the sliding base; and a second O-ringband attachable between the front pair of legs and the sliding base. Thesliding base is moved along the track toward the front end by pushingagainst a resistance created by the first second O-ring band. Thesliding base is moved along the track toward the back end by pullingagainst a resistance created by the second O-ring band.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing features. Moving the sliding base may include holding a handleattached to the sliding base. The method may include twisting a user'sbody while moving the sliding base along the track. The method mayinclude replacing the O-ring bands to change the resistance of thedevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other aspects, features and advantages can bemore readily understood from the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an abdominal exercise deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the abdominal exercise device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plane view of the abdominal exercise device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plane view of the sliding base of the abdominalexercise device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the housing of the sliding base of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the housing of the sliding base of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the housing of the sliding base of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 8A through 8D show the configurations of the O-ring bands of theabdominal exercise device of FIG. 1 from the back bottom, back top,front bottom, and front top views, respectively;

FIG. 9 shows the placement of a user's hands and arms on the handle ofthe abdominal exercise device of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 10A through 10D show the use of the abdominal exercise device ofFIG. 1 by a user, including forward and backward movements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Abdominal exercise devices are described herein, with reference toexamples and exemplary embodiments. Specific terminology is employed indescribing examples and exemplary embodiments. However, the disclosureof this patent specification is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that eachspecific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in asimilar manner.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the abdominal exercise device 1 of thepresent invention includes a track 10 and a sliding base 30. Track 10 isa straight, round track upon which sliding base 30 moves back and forth.

Track 10 is a round bar or tube-shaped structure having front end andback end 12 and 14 on its length. Track 10 is preferably made from adurable material, e.g., metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, andhas a diameter and a thickness that can withstand extensive and repeatedapplications of force without deformation or damage. In one embodiment,the diameter of track 10 is 22 mm. Track 10 may be hollow, which wouldresult in a device 1 that is light and may be easily moved or carried bya user.

In an aspect of the present invention, track 10 may have legs 16 fixedlyattached to or near front end and back end 12 and 14. Legs 16 may bedisposed substantially crosswise or orthogonal with respect to thelength of track 10. Legs 16 support and space straight round track 10off the ground or other surface on which device 1 rests. Legs 16 may beformed from a durable material, e.g., metal such as stainless steel oraluminum, similar to the material used to form track 10.

Legs 16 may further include feet 18, which provide the points of contactbetween device 1 and the ground. Feet 18 may include a tactile materialsuch as rubber to prevent slippage of device 1 along the ground duringuse.

In another aspect of the present invention, feet 18 may includerotatable pulley wheels 20 and 22 projecting a length upwardly from feet18 away from the ground or surface on which device 1 rests. Rotatablepulley wheels 20 and 22 may be rotatably attached to feet 18 such as byscrews or a metal post. In one example, rotatable pulley wheels 20 and22 have the form of small sheaves. The length of rotatable pulley wheels20 and 22 is sufficient to allow stretchable O-ring bands 24 and 26 tobe supported by and stretched between rotatable pulley wheels 20 and 22on feet 18 at either or both of the front end and the back end 12 and 14of track 10. The O-ring bands work with the rotatable pulley wheels toprovide a desired level of resistance to a user using device 1.

In an aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 4 through 7,sliding base 30 includes a housing 32 with side portions 34, bottomportion 36, and front and back ends 38 and 40, respectively. Housing 32may be constructed of any suitable durable material, e.g., hard plastic.In one embodiment, housing 32 is 45 mm in diameter and 118 mm in length.

Sliding base 30 houses two or more sheaves 42 rotatably attached to sideportions 34 of housing 22 by axles 44 disposed through the centers ofsheaves 42. Sliding base 30 may include holes 46 at its front and backends 38 and 40 through which track 10 may be inserted, allowing slidingbase 30 to move back and forth along track 10 between front end and backend 12 and 14.

Sheaves 42 of sliding base 30 are drums or pulley-shaped wheels having agroove 48 between two flanges 50 around their circumferences. Grove 48is shaped and sized to rest upon and roll along track 10. Sheaves 42 maybe formed from a durable material that can withstand extensive andrepeated applications of force without deformation or damage, e.g., hardrubber or nylon. In one embodiment, a lubricant such as oil or grease(not shown) may be placed on track 10 to decrease friction betweensheaves 42 and track 10 and provide easier movement of sheaves 42 alongtrack 10. Sheaves 42 permit limited movement along track 10 in a singleback and forth direction, preventing sloppy movements by a user thatcould result in ineffective or harmful exercising.

In another aspect of the present invention, sliding base 30 furtherincludes a handle structure 52, which may further include handle grips54 and forearm rests 56. Handle structure 52 is shaped so that a usermay comfortably grasp handle grips 54 and place his or her forearms onforearm rests 56 during use of device 1. Handle structure 52 may beconstructed of any durable material that can withstand extensive andrepeated applications of force without deformation or damage, e.g.,metal or hard plastic. Handle grips 54 and forearms rests 56 may furtherinclude additional materials to enhance the comfort of the user such asa plastic, rubber or fabric surfaces and pads. Handle structure 52 ispreferably designed ergonomically to enhance the comfort of the user andto maximize the exercise value of device 1 for the user.

In another aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, handle structure52 may be fixedly attached to sliding base 30, in which case slidingbase 30 is pivotable around track 10 as sliding base 30 moves back andforth along track 10. Sliding base 30 may pivot 360 degrees around track10. Alternatively or in addition, handle structure 52 may be fixedly yetpivotally attached to sliding base 30, allowing for rotatable orpivotable movement of handle structure 52 with respect to sliding base30, i.e., tilting and turning in multiple directions, while stillpermitting sliding base 30 to pivot around track 10 as sliding base 30moves back and forth along track 10. Such pivotable movement of slidingbase 30 around track 10 and rotatable or pivotable movement of handlestructure 52 with respect to sliding base 30 allows the user to changethe position of his or her body with respect to device 1 in use whilestill moving sliding base 30 back and forth along track 10.

In another aspect of the invention, bottom portion 36 of sliding base 30may include two rotatable pulley wheels 58 and 60 projecting a lengthdownwardly toward the ground or other surface on which device 1 rests.Rotatable pulley wheels 58 and 60 may be rotatably attached to bottomportion 36 such as by screws or metal posts. In one example, rotatablepulley wheels 58 and 60 have the form of small sheaves. Rotatable pulleywheels 58 and 60 are disposed near the front and back ends 38 and 40,respectively, of sliding base 30. The length of rotatable pulley wheels58 and 60 is sufficient to allow stretchable O-ring bands 24 and 26disposed between rotatable pulley wheels 20 and 22 on feet 18 to befurther supported by and securely stretched between rotatable pulleywheels 58 and 60, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 8A through 8D, stretchable O-ring bands 24 and 26permit sliding base 30 to work together with either or both ends 12 and14 of track 10 to create a desired amount of resistance when slidingbase 30 moves back and forth along track 10. O-ring bands 24 and 26 apreferably formed from a flexible, elastic material, e.g., rubber.

In use, device 1 may be placed on the ground or a flat surface, suchthat track 10 stably rests on feet 18 of legs 16. Referring to FIGS. 8Athrough 8D, resistive O-ring bands 24 and 26 may be securely stretchedaround rotatable pulley wheels 58 and 60 and rotatable pulley wheels 20and 22 on feet 18 with respect to front and rear portions 38 and 40 ofsliding base 30 to create the user's desired resistance for using device1. Knee pads 80 may be placed on the ground near the back end 14 oftrack 10 at a comfortable position for the user. The sliding base 30 maybe initially placed near the back end 14 of track 10.

As shown in FIG. 9, the user rests his or her knees on knee pads 80 andleans over track 10 to grab handles 54 with both hands and rests bothforearms on forearm rests 56. Referring to FIGS. 10A through 10D, theuser then moves sliding base 30 forward and then backward, repetitively,along track 10, pushing and pulling against the resistance created byO-ring bands 24 and 26. This forward and backward motion causes theuser's abdominal muscles to be extended and contracted to perform anabdominal exercise, particularly targeting the user's upper and obliquemuscles. The user's motion during the exercise may be generally limitedto a horizontal plane parallel to the ground or flat surface on whichdevice 1 is placed. Alternatively, the user may twist or turn his or herbody to the right or left during forward movements, backward movements,or both, which twisting is enabled by the pivotable movement of slidingbase 30 around track 10, the pivotable and rotatable movement of handlestructure 52 with respect to sliding base 30, or both.

Stretchable O-ring bands 24 and 26 create resistance for either or bothof the forward and backward motions of device 1 in use. 0-ring bands 24and 26 are easily replaceable by the user so that the user may select0-ring bands that provide a desired level of resistance upon movingsliding back 30 forward and backward along track 10. For example, theuser can increase or decrease the tension created by O-ring bands 24 and26 by changing the O-ring bands between those having light, medium andhard tension levels.

In addition, the embodiments and examples above are illustrative, andmany variations can be introduced to them without departing from thespirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. Forexample, elements and/or features of difficult illustrative andexemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other within thescope of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise device, comprising: a straight, roundtrack having a front end and a back end; and a sliding base movablealong the track between the front end and the back end, the sliding baseincluding a housing disposed around the track; and a plurality ofsheaves rotatably attached to the housing and engagable with the trackto roll along the track.
 2. The device of claim 1 further comprising afront pair of legs attached to the front end of the track and a backpair of legs attached to the back end of the track for supporting thetrack.
 3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a first O-ring bandattachable between the back pair of legs and the sliding base.
 4. Thedevice of claim 2 further comprising a second O-ring band attachablebetween the front pair of legs and the sliding base.
 5. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising a handle attached to the sliding base.
 6. Thedevice of claim 5 where the handle comprises handle grips and forearmrests.
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein the handle has an ergonomicdesign.
 8. The device of claim 5 wherein the handle is pivotally orrotatably attached to the sliding base.
 9. The device of claim 1 hereinthe sliding base is pivotable around the track.
 10. The device of claim3 further comprising rotatable pulley wheels attached to the rear pairof legs and the sliding base, wherein the first O-ring band is securelystretchable between the rotatable pulley wheels.
 11. The device of claim4 further comprising rotatable pulley wheels attached to the front pairof legs and the sliding base, wherein the second O-ring band is securelystretchable between the rotatable pulley wheels.
 12. An exercise device,comprising: a straight, round track having a front end and a back end, afront pair or legs attached to the front end of the track, and a backpair of legs attached to the back end of the track; a sliding basemovable along the track between the front end and the back end, thesliding base including a housing disposed around the track and aplurality of sheaves disposed in the housing and rotatably attached tothe housing and engagable with the track to roll along the track; ahandle attached to the sliding base; a first O-ring band attachablebetween the back pair of legs and the sliding base; and a second O-ringband attachable between the front pair of legs and the sliding base. 13.The device of claim 12 where the handle comprises a handle grips andforearm rests.
 14. The device of claim 12 wherein the handle has anergonomic design.
 15. The device of claim 12 wherein the handle ispivotally or rotatably attached to the sliding base.
 16. The device ofclaim 12 herein the sliding base is pivotable around the track.
 17. Amethod of performing an exercise, comprising providing an exercisedevice including a straight, round track having a front end and a backend, a front pair or legs attached to the front end of the track, and aback pair of legs attached to the back end of the track; a sliding basemovable along the track between the front end and the back end, thesliding base including a housing disposed around the track and aplurality of sheaves disposed in the housing and rotatably attached tothe housing and engagable with the track to roll along the track; afirst O-ring band attachable between the back pair of legs and thesliding base; and a second O-ring band attachable between the front pairof legs and the sliding base; moving the sliding base along the tracktoward the front end by pushing against a resistance created by thefirst second O-ring band; and moving the sliding base along the tracktoward the back end by pulling against a resistance created by thesecond O-ring band.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein moving thesliding base includes holding a handle attached to the sliding base. 19.The method of claim 17 further comprising twisting a user's body whilemoving the sliding base along the track.
 20. The method of claim 17further comprising replacing the O-ring bands to change the resistanceof the device.